The council is nearing a deal with Network Rail to acquire the former Powderhall Railway Line which could then be used as an off-road path.

While the negotiations have continued designed work was put on hold, to restart when an agreement was near which council officers now say it is.

The rail infrastructure company had a long term lease with the former operator of the old waste transfer station and Network Rail have to end that to allow the council to acquire the land under a lease.

A spokesperson for The City of Edinburgh Council said that talks have been positive although the land has yet to be valued.

Transport Convener Cllr Scott Arthur said it is a real possibility and will allow the council to create a direct active travel route from Piershill to Powderhall. He said: “I think that will be very welcome, and if we can get funding to deliver that route it could be transformative in that area. A lease from Network Rail would just be a first step. Following that we would have to consult on it, design the route and we would then have to get the cash to deliver it. So there will be no short term changes here.”

There is a housing regeneration project on one side of Powderhall so the discussion seems to have come at the right time. Below is a map investigated by the recent feasibility study.

The three sections are defined asSection 1 – New Lochend Butterfly overbridge to Broughton Road overbridgeSection 2 – Broughton Road overbridge to Chancelot Path / Warriston Path junctionSection 3 – Marionville Road overbridge to: A) New Lochend Butterfly overbridge; B) Abbey Lane; and C) Crawford Bridge.
Phyllis Stephen
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.